the president yesterday on the fiscal cliff. >> obama: let's allow higher rates to go up for the top 2% that includes all of you guests but not in anyway that is going to affect your spending, your lifestyles or the economy in any significant way. let's make sure that 98% of americans don't see a single dime in tax increases next year. 97% of small businesses don't see a single dime of tax increases next year and by doing that alone we raise almost a trillion dollars. [♪ "world news tonight" theme ♪] >> stephanie: associated press says the white house is signalling president obama is willing to let the country go over the cliff. this is a choice of the republican party if they are willing to do higher rates on the country, there is a lot to talk about, if they are not, they will push us over the cliff. tim geithner said there is no prospect in an agreement that doesn't include the tax rate going up on the top 2% of americans. he said we are not prepared to have the american economy held hostage to periodic threats. >> there you go. >> stephanie: and he pointed out, taxes were the